Ziggler waves to the crowd at US Airways Center. (Photo by Barry Gossage)

Roberts and Ziggler enjoy a Suns game on a rare night off. (Barry Gossage)

The "Showoff" enjoyed the show put on by the Suns. (Barry Gossage)

Dec 13, 2012

Money in the Bank Winner Returns to USAC

By Jeramie McPeek
Posted: Dec. 13, 2012

WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler and ring announcer Justin Roberts were in the house Wednesday night, sitting courtside for the Phoenix Suns’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

For Ziggler, a part-time Scottsdale resident who wore Suns orange to the game, it was a return to the spot where he won his “Money in the Bank” match back in July, at the WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

The potentially career-shifting victory came when he was the first of eight wrestlers to climb a ladder in the middle of the ring and grab a steel briefcase hanging high above. Inside the briefcase, a guaranteed contract, redeemable at any time within the following 12 months for a title match against the World Heavyweight Champion.

Ziggler may not get his shot at the champ after all, however, as WWE Chairman Vince McMahon arranged a match for this coming weekend’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view, in which Dolph’s blue briefcase will be on the line.

The self-proclaimed “Showoff” will face John Cena, who won the second-of-two Money in the Bank matches in Phoenix this past summer, but cashed his red briefcase in for a shot with WWE Champion CM Punk that he ended up winning by disqualification. The win by DQ meant that Cena became the first person in WWE history to cash in his opportunity and not come away with a championship in return.

The winner of Sunday’s TLC match could cash in their briefcase at any point, including at next month’s WWE pay-per-view, the 25th annual Royal Rumble, which will be held for the first time here in Phoenix.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the Rumble, but we also have a few pairs to give away in the coming weeks. Click here to enter for your shot at tickets in our 20th anniversary sweepstakes.